Ancient Calendar & Pagan Holidays: June 4: Socrates

Believe it or not, there are not many of images out there of Socrates. Even worse, his writings didn’t seem to survive the tests of time – or the coming generations of men. This is surprising given he was a famous Greek Philosopher.

Because his writings have seemed to have disappeared, we have to reply on other sources to tell us all about him and what he believed in. Those sources happen to be Aristophanes, who wrote a humorous play about him called, The Clouds. We also have Plato, Xenophon, and Aristotle.

Now, while Socrates–like most Greeks–loved his fill of wine and good-times, he was also said to be a soldier. Plato said he was praised and given honor for his bravery, but then, convicted of impiety, (lacking respect for a god or gods), by the Athenians. That being said, sources also claim that’s only part of the truth. It wasn’t that Socrates had no respect for a god, but that he had no respect for the Athenian Judicial system.